"Bastard! It was someone from the Xiao Clan!"
The middle-aged man's face was utterly grim, and tears even spilled from the corners of his eyes.
"Dark Sun? What happened?" An aged voice came from behind him, and a white-haired old man appeared before him.
"Hall Master Gu You, Niu... Niu is dead."
Dark Sun Heavenly Venerate looked helplessly at Gu You.
During the great war between the Xiao and Hun clans, Hall Master Hun Miesheng had been the first to bite the dust. Nearly half of the Hall of Souls' nine Heavenly Venerates had died, along with nearly half its Dou Zun experts.
The Hall of Souls had long since fallen to less than half its former strength. Its current Soul Hall Master was Hun Wuya, a former Deputy Hall Master who had knuckled down a century ago and broken through to the level of a Four-Star Dou Sheng.
Saint Gu You had also thrown himself into cultivation, actually breaking through that incredibly difficult barrier to become a Dou Sheng.
"Niu? Which little fellow?" Gu You froze for a moment, then glanced at Dark Sun Heavenly Venerate's crotch.
"Deputy Hall Master, I mean Hun Niu." Seeing Gu You's strange gaze, Dark Sun Heavenly Venerate grew even more grief-stricken and indignant, yet had no idea what exactly he should be angry about.
"Oh, that little fellow Hun Niu."
Understanding dawned on Gu You's face, only for his expression to change again.
"I remember Hun Niu was sent to guard a Branch Hall. If he's fallen, doesn't that mean the Branch Hall was wiped out?"
Gu You's expression turned exceedingly ugly.
To avoid drawing the Xiao Clan's attention, the Hall of Souls had long since stopped collecting souls. All these years, it had focused on training disciples and building up its strength.